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Asuitable first move 1

Where is the evidence that widening participation and a slowdown in vacancies will push more graduates into low-paid administrative or other casual work ("Graduates set for low-paid first jobs", THES , October 10)?

For years, about 30 per cent of graduates have taken a non-graduate job for a few months. They may want time to consider their options, to get a feel for different environments or an undemanding job that allows time for further study.

Not all undergraduates have career plans from day one. Careers services try to encourage students to plan. They can offer one-to-one guidance, work experience, workshops, employer visits and job fairs.

There are now more women than men in higher education worldwide. While it would appear to be a victory for gender equality, this imbalance also highlights boys’ educational underachievement. Ellie Bothwell reports